Towards an Ordinary Happy Ending
The winner of the hunting festival was Antus Khan Berius, the young lord of the North. While the other noble boys brought back deer, rabbits, and pheasants, he dragged in a live drake.
"Everyone, you've all worked hard. May the goddess of the moon recognize our efforts today. And..."
Antus stroked the terrified drake repeatedly as he gave his victory speech. Most people watching felt awe.
A drake with his bare hands? Even our knight order captain couldn't do that.
That's the next Northern Duke? Rumors said he had a nasty temper, but he looks flawless.
Whoa, look at those forearms... God, if only he'd choke me until I couldn't breathe with those muscles...
Overwhelming power, a physique symbolizing raw masculinity, and eloquent speech on top—it made him someone everyone couldn't help but love. Everyone except one person: the crown prince.
"I hope no one got hurt? Fell off your horse, maybe rolled in the mud... Though, of course, the refined nobles of the Euclid Empire wouldn't make such foolish mistakes. My apologies for the slip."
The crown prince wanted to kill Antus, who seemed to glare at him from afar while speaking. He'd rolled in the mud dodging Antus's arrow in shock, and the guy had wrecked his bow, leaving him without a single trophy. He should have been the star of today's hunt—especially with no other royals present. Antus had stolen that spotlight.
"Serena, we have to kill that monstrous villain."
Before the hunt, the crown prince had hesitated about murdering Antus, but now he fully backed Serena's plan. Maybe even more than she did.
"Your Highness. Did the young lord perhaps awaken his ability?"
Serena was anxious. It didn't seem like the prince had simply failed to hit Antus—it felt like Antus had awakened a power and deliberately dodged.
"No. If he had, all the men here would already be dead."
"...You're right."
Serena peered into the future again. As expected, it hadn't changed. Antus slaughtering all men and impregnating women.
But... why do I look happier? And the other women too—their faces seem more relaxed. Am I imagining it?
Urgh, my body's reacting again... I shouldn't...
Serena chalked it up to seeing such a stimulating vision after so long. Antus matched her ideal type perfectly! But a monster that would destroy the world had to be eliminated. That was her mission as the one who saw the future, she believed.
"Let's plan the next move."
"How about this..."
Antus watched quietly as the crown prince and Serena chatted.
The hunting festival was held in our territory. I stashed the drake in the monster pen and headed to my room. I planned to raise it well and keep it around.
It's alive for now, but that bastard's face says he'll come for me again.
I'd gone a bit overboard in the heat of the moment earlier. But if the crown prince had any pride, he couldn't complain.
For now, though, I needed to prepare for the future.
Prepare how...? Hmm... Damn, I'm hot as fuck.
I was admiring my perfect reflection in the mirror, pondering countermeasures against the prince, when a voice echoed in my head.
Your actions have altered the novel's ending routes.
Antus Khan Berius's future now holds only happy endings.
Ending No.1: Infinite Mating Earth Destruction Ending
Ending No.2: Infinite Female Corruption Training Ending
Ending No.3: World Conquest Ending
Ending No.4: Polygamy Smooth Sailing Ending
Ending No.5: Monogamy Pure Love Ending - Serena
...
Ending No. 25,000,000: Monogamy Pure Love Ending - Eos
Some endings remain locked.
Endings are fixed futures. They cannot be avoided.
"What the fuck is this?"
My head nearly exploded from the endless voice. Once it finally stopped, I sank into thought. My actions had changed the novel's endings, leaving only happy ones for me? But what the hell were these names starting with the first one?
"Infinite Mating Earth Destruction—what the fuck?"
Thinking about No.1 triggered a scene before my eyes.
"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!"
"Harder, Master!"
"Hah... Hah...!"
I was rolling around on a massive bed with countless women. Curious about what came next, I fast-forwarded. In the ending, I used Time Stop intermittently for breaks, then shook my hips again, swapped women, kept going—nonstop busywork. Pure debauchery, a beast's den.
"...That's supposed to be me?"
It felt like an ending reflecting the original Antus character's traits. I like women, sure, but that was repulsive. Looked filthy, reeking. Fast-forwarding to the end, I'd killed all other men, leading to inbreeding freaks everywhere—humanity became monster chow. Happy ending?
"Well... I look happy in it..."
Not a true happy ending—just me happy. Kinda pissed me off.
"Let's check the others."
I played through them one by one. No.2: Like No.1 but without killing men—kidnapping and training women I liked. I looked happy there too. No.3: Killing and smashing whatever I hated, doing whatever. More fun than happy. From No.4 to the last: endless fucking. No harm to others, at least.
"Th-this isn't because I like you or anything...!"
"Shut up and get over here."
"Ngh...!"
This was the Serena pure love ending. Felt like watching a heroine forced to serve the villain. Is that pure love? Who knows.
"Ah, my head hurts."
Clutching my throbbing skull, another voice came.
Hint for locked endings:
Develop your territory.
The Ending Helper tossed me a tiny hint as "reward." It said I couldn't escape endings, so monogamy with someone compatible seemed fine. But with other futures possible, I had to check.
Who knows—maybe Antus regains humanity for a true happy ending for all. Territory development was key.
"Gotta see the Northern Duke."
"Father, hand the position to me."
"Antus? What nonsense is this out of nowhere? Have you finally lost your mind?"
Horus Khan Berius, the Northern Duke. As the world's strongest, he wasn't easy.
"I can develop the territory better than you."
"You, who ignored studies for martial arts and women? Stick to knight captain."
"No. I must become Northern Duke."
"...Good you're shaping up, but not yet."
"What will it take?"
"Graduate the academy or beat me here with the sword. Pick one."
Academy: 3-6 years. Fun, maybe, but too long and studious for me. I drew my sword.
"Now?"
My body's talented, but facing a Swordmaster head-on? Impossible. Yet the duke could never beat me.
"Hah... Fine, do as you—"
Snap—
Time stopped before he finished. I stole his sword, tossed it far away, pressed mine to his throat, and sat.
Snap—
Time resumed.
"—want."
"I win, Father."
"...?"
The duke looked up in disbelief, like it was a dream. The waiting nobles and knights stared. Nobles, terrified by my overpowering strength, stayed silent. Knights, knowing Northern martial etiquette, held their tongues.
Shing—
I sheathed my sword, turned from the dazed duke to the vassals, and declared.
"From now on, I am the Northern Duke. I, Antus Khan Berius, will make the North shine brighter than the empire's heart. For that, I need your proper aid. Understand?"
"...Yes!!!"
The silent hall erupted—starting with the knight captain and others, all vassals responded. On my first day possessed, I became Northern Duke.